Lyme Disease Diagnosis Lime Disease symptoms, limes Disease, lym...

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Important: False negative test results have been widely reported in both early and late disease. Canada is endemic for Lyme 1. Lyme disease is a 'clinical' diagnosis and any Canadian may be exposed to it anywhere, subsequently the 'history of exposure in an endemic area' part of the symptom and history equation is made. We know its here, and have found it in every Province but we are too vast a country with too few resources to track this with any degree of accuracy. The ticks are deposited by migratory birds so what may be non endemic one day may have the beginnings of a tick population the next. Look very seriously at symptoms.

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-No Warranties or Representations The data and information presented in this web site are presented in good faith and believed to be accurate. Any and all liability for the content or any omissions including any inaccuracies, errors, or misstatements in such data or information is expressly disclaimed. The web site is compiled for the sole purpose of informing community members of resources and information pertaining to Lyme Borreliosis Disease and its coinfections. The Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation, Directors and members are not liable for any direct or indirect damages or any damages whatsoever resulting from loss of use, data or profits, whether in an action of contract, negligence or other tortious action arising out of or in connection with the use or performance of information available from this website. Consult a qualified Lyme ( Borreliosis ) Disease literate doctor

Many Lyme patients were firstly diagnosed with other illnesses such as Juvenile Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Reactive Arthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Infectious Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, Fibromyalgia, Raynaud's Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Interstitial Cystis, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, Fifth's Fisease, Multiple Sclerosis, scleroderma, lupus, early ALS, early Alzheimers Disease, crohn's disease, ménières syndrome, reynaud's syndrome, sjogren's syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, prostatitis, psychiatric disorders (bipolar, depression, etc.), encephalitis, sleep disorders, thyroid d isease and various other illnesses. Tick Attachment Time Questioned The minimum time a tick needs to be attached to humans in order for the Lyme bacteria to be transmitted is estimated to be 24 to 48 hours, HOWEVER this applies only to the laboratory setting. In real life as a person moves, scratches, brushes up against things, sleeps and rolls over, the tick can be compressed causing its stomach contents to expel into the victim at any time. Recent incomplete attachment to an infected host could also cause tick saliva to be infective.

Early onset symptoms are fever, malaise (a vague feeling of bodily discomfort or unwellness, possibly nausea), fatigue, headache, muscle aches (myalgia), and joint aches (arthralgia). Many do not get these early symptoms and their first signs may be tingling/numbness, weakness in muscle control, tremors/tics, optic disturbances, memory deficiency (usually short term memory) psychiatric presentations, periods of unexplained anger/rage, headache, neck pain, spinal tenderness, lower back pain, neurologic defined pain/sensations such as hot/cold, either surface or deep, or other such neurologic disorders which then progress to or are

combined with disturbances of other other systems in the body such as cardiac, musco-skeletal, sinus, jaw/teeth (TMJ) see symptoms. Coinfections may bring a mix of their own symptoms and testing issues.2 Timing of Blood Tests for Lyme Disease Time and again this office receives phone calls from patients who have a rash, and in some cases had had a tick attached at the site, only to be told by their physician to come back a month later for a test. It is imperative that clinicians understand that the pr esence of a homogenous or "bull's eye" rash caused by a tick-bite is indicative of infection, and treat ment should be started immediately. Do not look at this as simply an allergic reaction to the bite. Err on the side of caution. Most blood tests do not work until 4-6 weeks after infection has occurred, and any delay may cause complications at a later date. Remember also to advise the patient of the likelihood of a Jarisch-Herxheimer (Herx) reaction upon initiation of treatment. This is common in spirochaetal disease treatment and is caused as a result of toxins released as the die off of the spirochetes takes place. The bull's-eye rash (erythema migrans) may occur in some cases (30%+) but is often missed or unrecognized and does not rule out Lyme Disease in its absence. It is not always a bull's eye and can be more generalized in appearance. The incubation period from infection to onset of erythema migrans is typically 7 to 14 days but may be as short as 3 days and as long as years. As reported by RICHARD SADOVSKY, M.D., American Academy of Family Physicians, "The diagnosis of Lyme disease is clinical. Early infection is often accompanied by false-negative serologic tests, although this can occur late in the disease. The positive predictive value of serologic testing is low in patients with vague symptoms unaccompanied by any objective signs." Some infected individuals have dormant illness (asymptomatic infection has been determined by serological testing) later manifesting from trauma or immuno-suppression, or manifest only non-specific symptoms such

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Lyme Disease Diagnosis Lime Disease symptoms, limes Disease, lym...

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as fever, malaise, tingling/numbness sensations, meningitis, encephalitis, headache, fatigu e, or myalgia. The patient may in many cases not recall a tick bite. Ticks, especially in the nymph stage may feed undetected and fall off leaving behind only a sinister calling card...borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease) and possible co-infections (echlirosis, babesios is, bartonella). Lyme disease spirochetes disseminate from the site of the tick bite by cutaneous, lymphatic and blood borne routes. The signs of early 'disseminated' infection can occur within days to weeks. Symptoms may also slowly reveal themselves over a long period of time with patients showing up at their doctors with vague, varied symptoms and no knowledge of a tick bite nor rash. In addition to possible multiple (secondary) erythema migrans lesions, early disseminated i nfection may be manifest as disease of the nervous system in varying degrees (ie. muscle twitches, tics, numbness/tingling, lower back/neck pain), the musculoskeletal system, or the heart. Early neurologic manifestations include aseptic meningitis (infection in the cerebrospinal fluid also called lymphocytic meningitis ), cranial neuropathy (changes in nerve sensation of the skull , face/jaw region, especially facial full/partial nerve palsy), and radiculoneuritis (nerve root involvment). Musculoskeletal manifestations may include migrat ory joint and muscle pains with or without objective signs of joint swelling. Cardiac manifestations may include rapid/fluctuating heart rate (tachycardia), slowing of the heart rate below 60 bpm (bradycardia), myocarditis (inflammation of the muscular walls of the heart) and transient atrioventricular blocks [the inappropriate delay (or complete inability) of an electrical i mpulse, generated in the atria, to reach the ventricles (via the atrioventricular node)]. B. burgdorferi (Lyme) infection in the untreated or inadequately treated patient may progre ss to late disseminated disease weeks to years after infection. Manifestations of late disseminated Lyme disease are intermittent swelling and/or pain of one or a few joints (asymetrically), chronic axonal polyneuropathy, or encephalopathy, the latter usually manifested by cognitive disorders, eye disturbances, sleep disturbance, fatigue, memory and personality changes (including depression, bi-polar disorder and psychi atric manifestations). More frequently, Lyme disease morbidity may be severe, chronic, and disabling. An ill-defined post-Lyme disease syndrome is said to occur in some persons following treatment for Lyme disease. But this is clearly an 'active' not 'post' lyme infection and further treatment must continue if resolution is to be gained. Fatalities are recorded ranging from heart problems to suicide. Ref. 1. http://www.bioone.org/bioone/?request=get-abstract&issn=0022-2585&volume=038&issue=04&page= 0493" 2. Coinfections 3. Lawrence C, Lipton RB, Lowy FD, Coyle PK (1995). "Seronegative chronic relapsing neuroborreliosis". Eur Neurol 35 (2): 113-7. PMID 7796837 4. Coyle PK, Schutzer SE, Deng Z, Krupp LB, Belman AL, Benach JL, Luft BJ (1995). "Detection of Borrelia burgdorferi-specific antigen in antibody-negative cerebrospinal fluid in neurologic Lyme di sease". Neurology 45 (11): 2010-5. PMID 7501150. 5. Paul A (2001). "[Arthritis, headache, facial paralysis. Despite negative laboratory tests Borrelia can still be the cause]". MMW Mortschr Med 143 (6): 17. PMID 11247357. 6. Pikelj F, Strle F, Mozina M (1989). "Seronegative Lyme disease and transitory atrioventricular block". Ann Intern Med 111 (1): 90. PMID 11247357. 7. Oksi J, Uksila J, Marjamaki M, Nikoskelainen J, Viljanen MK (1995). "Antibodies against whole sonicated Borrelia burgdorferi spirochetes, 41-kilodalton flagellin, and P39 protein in patients with PCR- or culture-proven late Lyme borreliosis" (PDF). J Clin Microbiol 33 (9): 2260-4. PMID 7494012 To Top

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